News

Choosing a tablet that works for you

11/04/2014

Chances are the right tablet is out there but how do you choose the one for you? Read our top tips for choosing your perfect tablet.

If you’re in the market for a tablet, thankfully there is one out there that is perfect for you. The tricky part is finding it. The good news is that tablets have been around for a fair few years, which means improved capability, faster speeds and more choice which is driving prices down. But with so much choice, which one is right for you?

Will you use it for school, work or personal stuff? Do you do a lot of gaming or movie watching or do you just want to surf the web and check emails? Are you wanting your new tablet to replace a laptop? How much storage space do you need? Is camera quality important to you? Where will you use your tablet – mostly at home or out and about?

The answers to these questions will inform your choice on things like operating system, screen size and quality, storage space, processor speed, RAM, wireless connectivity, camera and much more. We know, it’s confusing right?! It doesn’t have to be. Read on to find out our top tips for choosing a tablet that works for you.

Compare the Hardware

Depending on your needs, you might want to consider the following:

Camera: For all your spur of the moment selfies, you might want a tablet with a front-facing camera. If camera quality is important look into the megapixel specs.

Speed and processor: We’re an impatient lot; we want everything immediately, so there has to be minimal wait time when launching an app, opening a webpage and adjusting settings. Processors of 1GHz or more will give you the best results.

RAM: Here you’re aiming for 512MB or more as anything less with impede overall performance.

Wireless capability: If being mobile is key, then you might want Wi-Fi network or 3G cellular network connectivity.

Storage: If you want to safely store all six seasons of your treasured TV show Glee (come on, admit it), then your onboard storage capacity may be important to you. Different tablets offer anything between 16GB to 128GB.

Compare the Software

While there are options that run for Blackberry and Windows, the most common operating systems are Android and Apple iOS. Operating systems perform the basic functions that make the tablet run, and while there are many differences between these two dominant players, there are two functions that are important:

App Stores: Apple devices access the iTunes App Store, while Android access apps on Google Play, and these are totally exclusive to their operating system. Both stores have plenty of variety with Apple boasting more than 775,000 apps and Google 700,000, however if you are looking for a specific app it may inform your choice of device.

Compatibility: If you want to share (sync) the same media, calendar, contacts and more across multiple devices, you’ll want to choose a tablet with the same operating system. Choosing the same OS will also allow you to learn the device relatively quickly.

Compare the Price

Typically, the more features means a higher price tag. If budget is your number one deciding factor, then consider purchasing a tablet with less specs, choosing an older model, or one without a 3G data plan attached. Sometimes you can even save cash by buying through third-party suppliers like eBay or Amazon.

Read the reviews or have a play

Once you’ve narrowed it down to one or two, it’s a good idea to see how the reviews stack up. Check out the photos and videos of how the tablet works and get a feel for the user experience. Or even better, go into a store and have a play.

As a dominant player in the tablet market, Apple’s iPad Air will no doubt be on you compare list. Weighing in at just 500 grams and at 7.5mm thin, the Air is astonishingly light and thin. If you do decide to go with the Air, Spout’s tablet cases can help protect “the precious”:

Covermate Morph- Available in black and red, the Covermate Morph is a thin and sturdy design that includes an innovative fold stand for maximum stability on hands-free.

Executive Shell – With a soft leather-style finish available in four colours, the Executive Shell combines the protective polycarbonate shell, rotator hinge and stand, with soft microfiber and flexible leather cover.

Executive Slim – This little baby is slim, light and comes with a built-in hand strap to let you hold and use your iPad on the move.